ISLAMABAD: A two-day national conference on pre-primary education and child care was held on Monday at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). All the stake-holders agreed they should work together with a pro-active approach for early childhood development. While inaugurating the conference, Education Minister Muhammad Baligur Rehman announced that the government will prioritise child welfare, hoping that the conference’s recommendations will help preparing a road-map for ensuring better future of the new generation. The conference was jointly organised by the Early Childhood Development Network of Pakistan (ECDNP), Education Ministry, AIOU and some relevant NGOs. Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shiddiqui, in his remarks on the occasion, said that the AOIU will provide academic and intellectual support to the efforts of promoting and implementing the concept of pre-primary education. “We wish to be government’s strong partner in this connection,” he added. The minister announced that the matters relating to early childhood will be included in the curriculum at various academic levels. Federal government in collaboration with the provinces will take steps for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). He said the government has initiated a pilot project by opening of Montessori classes at eleven different schools of the capital, which have given outstanding feedback. The minister was of the view that nutrition and characterization of children in early childhood was mandatory before education. He pressed upon the fact that the quality of education and ECCE were mandatory to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). He hoped that ECCE conference will come out concrete recommendations for better education in the country. AIOU Vice Chancellor in his speech further added that the event was highly significant since it brings all the stake holders together on one platform to evolve future road map taking care of children at their early age. He stated, “About 65 percent women were getting education in the AIOU adding that about one thousands prisoners would also get free education from the university. AIOU was providing free education to out of school female children.” The event was arranged aimed at promoting holistic early childhood care and education for Pakistan and creating an equitable, pluralistic and sustainable society. Additional Education Secretary Imran Ahmad, Joint Educational Advisor Rafiq Tahir, Prof Dr Manzoor Hussain from Bangladesh, UNICEF Deputy Representative Cristian Lorena Munduate, Pakistan Early Childhood Network Development Chairman Nasruddin Rupani, Representative of JICA Pakistan Chief Yasuhiro Tojoalso spoke on the occasion. They hailed the efforts of education ministry and its partners for holding this conference on early childhood care and education.